Circumcision ring



O 2, 1962 D. H. KARIHER ETAL 3,056,407

CIRCUMCISION RING Original Filed May 18, 1955 iiii I N V EN TORli.

DONALD H. KAR/HER By no moms 1% SMITH W 6Q 9 ATTURNEY Unite Stats Thisinvention relates to a surgical device used in performing circumcisionsand, more particularly, to a circumcision ring which permits theperformance of a circumcision by ligation.

This application is a continuation of a pending application entitledCircumcision Ring, bearing Serial Number 509,149 and filed on May 18,1955, now abandoned and the benefit of this prior filing date is herebyclaimed.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a circumcision ringhaving a handle which is employed by the surgeon to properly locate thering on the glans penis preparatory to circumcision and which handle iseasily removable after the operation has been completed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a circumcision ring of amaterial having characteristics which permit the ring to be easilyaltered or changed in configuration so as to conform to any anatomicalvariations or abnormality.

A further object of the invention is to provide a circumcision ringwhich can be more conveniently and more comfortably worn by the patientfollowing the operation, and which eliminates the necessity of anypost-operative care.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device, of thetype described, which is extremely simple in construction and which canbe very inexpensively manufactured.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the device showing the front of thehandle thereof.

FIGURE 2 is another elevational view, similar to FIG- URE 1, showing theside of the handle thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a view showing the posterior end of the device.

FIGURE 5 is a view showing the anterior end of the ring.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are views of the device properly positioned on the glanspreparatory to the application of ligature.

FIGURE 8 is a view showing the relative position of the prepuce afterthe application of ligature.

FIGURE 9 is a view of the device with the handle removed after excision.

The circumcision ring constituting this invention comprises a conical orbell-shaped hollow body 11 having an annular flange 12 formed adjacentthe anterior end 13 thereof. The junction of the flange 12 with the body11 forms a groove 14. A Y-shaped handle 15 is positioned so that eachleg thereof is secured at diametric opposite points to the anterior end13. Each leg of the handle 15 is relatively thin adjacent its junctionwith the anterior end 13 of the body 11, so that a slight reatent3,56,4fl7 Patented Oct. 2, 1962 ciprocation of the handle 15 will eifecta fracture at the junction thereof. The handle 15 is disposed paralleland concentric with the longitudinal axis of the body 11. The ring hasan interior surface .16 which is conically shaped and so as to conformsubstantially with the configuration of the glans penis. The interiorsurface 16 tapers so as to provide an enlarged opening at the posteriorend 17 thereof.

The device has been successfully fabricated from butyrate, but may bemanufactured from most any suitable plastic which has the characteristicof being sufficiently soft so that it can be manually cut by scissorsand also suiiiciently brittle so that alternate bending will effectfracture. The material from which the article is manufactured shouldfurther have the characteristic of being light in weight and also thefinal finish or surface thereof should be extremely smooth to avoid anyirritation in its use. It has been found that the article can be cheaplyand easily manufactured by the use of molds by many of the numerousmethods Well known in the plastic industry.

The circumcision ring described herein is preferably used as follows:

A dorsal slit is made to within a few millimeters of the corona in theusual manner. The device is then placed over the glans and the prepuceis drawn over the body 11 until the apex of the dorsal slit is locatedadjacent the groove 14, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The ring ispositioned at an angle which avoids any excessive pressure on ventralvessels. If the body 11 of the device is found to be too long orimproperly shaped, it may be trimmed to a proper size and configurationwith a scissors. Naturally, any resultant sharp edges. are removedbefore the ring is re-applied. Trimming is usually only necessary whenanatomical abnormalities or variations exist.

With the ring thus positioned a suitable ligature 18 is applied aboutthe body 11 in the groove .14 thereof and then firmly tied so that theprepuce is compressed into the groove 14 as shown in FIGURE 8. Theexcess ligature is then removed and the portion of the prepuce distal tothe ligature is trimmed off. The handle 15 is then removed by holdingthe body 11 firmly and reciprocating the handle slightly so as tofracture the same at its juncture with the anterior end 13 of the ring.It has been found that no further dressing or post-operative care isnecessary. The ring usually falls ofi along with the devitalized tissuewithin 5 to 7 days, resulting in a clean, well healed line of excision.The ligature material may be heavily braided silk, braided cord tie,linen fish line (unwaxed) or many other suitable materials.

It is thus seen that the circumcision ring constituting this inventionis easily applied and lends itself to a rapid and safe technique andalso eliminates the necessity of any post-operative care. The device canbe disposed of after use at negligible cost since it is of such simpleand inexpensive construction. Furthermore, it is to be noted that theremoval of the handle 15 thereof after excision constitutes a verydistinct advantage, in that there is no awkward protrusion to catch ondiapers or articles of clothing, thus resulting in interference with thenormal process of healing by causing irritation or other injury.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. A surgical device for performing a circumcision comprising a hollowbell-shaped body open at both ends thereof, the interior surface thereofbeing conically shaped and tapered to define an enlarged opening at theposterior end thereof, an annular flange secured to the exterior surfaceof said body adjacent the anterior end thereof, and a Y-shaped handlepositioned adjacent said anterior end and having each leg thereofsecured to one of two diametrically opposite points of said anteriorend, the legs of said Y-shaped handle adjacent to their juncture withthe anterior end of said body 'being thinner than any other portion ofsaid handle, so that upon slight reciprocation of said handle, thelatter Will be caused to fracture at said juncture and become detachedfrom said body.

2. A surgical device for performing a circumcision comprising a hollowbody Open at both ends thereof, and a Y-shaped handle positionedadjacent said anterior end and having each leg thereof secured to one oftwo diametrically opposite points of said anterior end, the legs of said5 ture and become detached from said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,272,072 Ross Feb. 3, 1942

